Model year record

2006 Pontiac Montana recalls & problems

The 2006 Pontiac Montana has 2 safety recalls and 37 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (8 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints37filed by owners

Crashes · fires2 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths3 · 0reported in complaints

2006 Pontiac Montana in an NHTSA crash test — NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

SuspensionMar 19, 2010

Rear

Recall 10V1100005,375 vehicles

Problem: THE BRAUN CORPORATION HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2008 GENERAL MOTORS MOBILITY CONVERSION, HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE LOW FLOOR MINIVANS. DURING CONVERSION, THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE TRAILING ARM MODIFICATION MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY WELDED.
Risk: A SQUEAKING OR CLUNKING NOISE MAY DEVELOP. THE TRAILING ARM BUSHINGS MAY PREMATURELY WEAR AND THE TRAILING ARM MAY FRACTURE OR SEPARATE, ALLOWING THE REAR AXLE TO BECOME PARTIALLY SEPARATED FROM THE CHASSIS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND WILL HAVE A SUPPLY OF RETROFIT PARTS AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 4, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BRAUN AT 1-800-488-0359.

EquipmentDec 7, 2005

Other › Labels

Recall 05V55200032,068 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SHIPPED WITH TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABELS LISTING AN INACCCURATE VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHT.
Risk: A MISPRINTED LABEL COULD LEAD TO IMPROPER VEHICLE LOADING SPECIFICATIONS OR TIRE INFLATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A TIRE FAILURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECTED LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. AT THE CUSTOMER'S OPTION, A DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, OR ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2006 Pontiac Montana SV6 Van

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Montana SV6 FWD

19mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

Montana SV6 FWD

19mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.9 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

Montana SV6 AWD

17mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 21 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Electrical system	8	0	0	100,000 mi
SuspensionRear; Rear › Axle › Non-powered axle assembly	6	0	0	80,472 mi
StructureBody › Door; Body	5	0	0	63,996 mi
Electronic stability control (esc)	5	0	0	61,128 mi
Engine	5	0	0	145,059 mi
Power train	4	0	0	80,449 mi
Exterior lighting	3	0	0	—
SteeringLinkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm	3	0	0	—
Tires	3	1	1	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine	2	0	0	—
Service brakes	2	0	0	—
Fuel/propulsion system	2	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Unknown or other
WHEN HAVING MY OIL CHANGED AT A GARAGE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE LIFT BOTH FRAME RAILS HAD SEVERE RUST DAMAGE. SINCE THIS IS WHAT GIVES THE UNIBODY FRAME IT'S STRENGTH, WHY DIDN'T GM ZINC COAT THEM OR APPLY RUST PROOFING? I LIVE IN SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN WHERE THEY USE SALT ON THE ROADS IN WINTER. SEEING GM IS ALSO IN MICHIGAN YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD BE AWARE OF THIS AND ACT ACCORDINGLY? THE ONLY REASON I CAN THINK OF IS TO SAVE MONEY, INCREASE PROFITS, AT THE EXPENSE OF THE VEHICLE BEING SAFE FOR THE CONSUMER. I DON'T SEE DESIGNING THE FRAME RAILS TO LAST FOR 20-25 YEARS FOR SAFETY REASONS AS BEING UNREASONABLE.
Oct 1, 2020 · 199,000 miles
Engine
WHEN IT'S COLD AND YOU START THE VEHICLE I GET A MESSAGE REDUCED ENGINE POWER. YOU HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY SHUT IT OFF. SOM ETIMES WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT IS WARMED UP IT WILL DO THIS AND YOU HAVE TO FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER BECAUSE IF YOU TRY TO GIVE IT GAS IT WON'T GO ANYWAYS. I THINK IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU ARE GOING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE AND CARS ARE RIGHT ON YOUR ASS. LUCKILY I WASN'T ON THE INTERSTATE BUT I WAS ON A HIGHWAY GOING 60MPH WHEN IT HAPPENED.
Nov 13, 2019 · 199,203 miles
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC MONTANA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL RUBBING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION DETACHED FROM THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Nov 26, 2019 · 180,000 miles
Engine
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, OR AFTER AWHILE WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WILL COME UP AND READ REDUCED ENGINE POWER THEN YOU HAVE TO STOP BECAUSE IT WILL NOT LET YOU ACCELERATE THE GAS PEDAL. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU TURN IT OFF AND RESTART IT, IT WILL BE FINE AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO WAIT ABOUT 10 MINUTES THEN RESTART. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE ON A SIDE STREET OR ON THE HIGHWAY, IT JUST RANDOMLY DOES THIS.
Nov 5, 2018 · 160,000 miles
Electronic stability control (esc)
THE DASH KEEPS TELLING ME THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL AND STABILITY SYSTEM NEED TO BE CHECKED. I HAVE WIRING ISSUES FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT LIGHTS, THEY COME ON AND OFF. FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ PROPERLY ALL THE TIME AND NOW MOST RECENTLY THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT ALARM DOES NOT REGISTER THAT THE SEAT BELT IS CONNECTED. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES THESE ISSUES MOVING AND STATIONARY.
Aug 1, 2018
Tires
TIRES ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF EXTREME SIDEWALL SPLITS THAT COULD HAVE LED TO TIRE BLOWOUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TIRES WILL BE TAKEN BACK TO STORE WHERE BOUGHT ALTHOUGH NOT OPTIMISTIC THEY WILL REPLACE THEM. DUNLOP SIGNATURE SERIES II ALL SEASON
Dec 15, 2015 · 116,258 miles
Structure › Body
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC MONTANA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARDD DEVELOPED CRACKS IN SEVERAL AREAS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Jan 10, 2011 · 70,000 miles
Electrical system
KEEP SAYING SERVICE PARKING LITE CHANGE LIGHT BULB CHECK FUSES CANNOT FIX PROBLEM.
Jul 7, 2015

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

POWER SLIDING DOORClosed
ODI EVALUATED GENERAL MOTORS' (GM) DATA, CONDUCTED CONSUMER INTERVIEWS, INSPECTED AND TESTED MY 2005-2007 GM MINIVANS WITH REGARD TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT OF A POWER SLIDING DOOR (PSD) OPENING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF PARK.ODI IDENTIFIED A HIGH WARRANTY CLAIM RATE.HOWEVER, THESE CLAIMS ARE RELATED TO VARIOUS PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH DOORS NOT PROPERLY OPENING OR CLOSING AND NOT SPECIFICALLY TO DOORS OPENING WHILE DRIVING.THE CONDITION OF THE PSD REVERSING DIRECTION DURING THE CLOSING SEQUENCE IS CONSISTENT WITH AN OBSTRUCTION OF THE DOOR, OR WITH IMPROPER ALIGNMENT OF THE DOOR, AND THIS IS ADDRESSED IN GM TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN # 07-08-64-007 AND BULLETINS # 07-08-64-007A THROUGH D.ODI'S EVALUATION OF THE PSD SYSTEM NOTES NUMEROUS SAFEGUARDS TO PRECLUDE BOTH UNINTENTIONAL AND INTENTIONAL POWER OPENING OF THE PSD WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.A SAFETY-DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN…
EA07019 · opened Dec 11, 2007 · closed Feb 23, 2009
POWER SLIDING DOOR OPENINGClosed
ODI HAS RECEIVED REPORTS THAT THE POWER SLIDING DOORS OPENED WITHOUT COMMAND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON MODEL YEAR 2005 AND 2006 GENERAL MOTORS MINIVANS (CHEVROLET UPLANDER/VENTURE, PONTIAC MONTANA SV6/MONTANA, BUICK TERRAZA, AND SATURN RELAY).SOME REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE DOOR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN CLOSED AND LATCHED BEFORE DRIVING AWAY CAUSING THE DOOR TO REVERSE (OPEN) AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS.HOWEVER, OTHER REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE DOOR WAS INITIALLY SHUT THEN OPENED AFTER DRIVING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND/OR MILES AT VEHICLE SPEEDS BETWEEN 20 AND 70 MPH.ODI HAS UPGRADED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA07-019) TO FURTHER ASSESS THIS ISSUE.
PE07044 · opened Aug 16, 2007 · closed Dec 11, 2007